Juty finds McFelins guilty of kidnapping
PA Timaru Paul and Karen McFelin were found guilty last evening of the kidnapping of Gloria Kong, aged 14, near Oamaru last June, and were remanded for sentence on April 22 in Auckland. The juiy in the High Court at Timaru reached its verdict after deliberating for a little more than five hours. The verdict was announced before a full but silent public gallery. Mr Justice Hillyer remanded the McFelins in custody to the High Court at Auckland for a probation report and sentence. The verdict came after a trial lasting five weeks. It was described by counsel
involved as unique in the annals of New Zealand legal history. The Crown alleged that the McFelins, with David Larnach and Paul George, who pleaded guilty, took Gloria from her home at gunpoint and demanded $120,000 ransom from her parents.
After being held captive for about 36 hours, Gloria escaped, unharmed, and a big police investigation was launched. The McFelins denied being involved and claimed that Larnach and George substituted their names for two other people who were involved in the kidnapping
Messrs T. M. Gresson and G. D. Pearson appeared for the Crown and Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon (Christchurch) and Mrs L. 0. Smith (Auckland) appeared for the McFelins.
The McFelins were both found guilty of detaining Gloria Kong without consent with intent to hold her for ransom, with intent to facilitate the kidnapping did by violent means render James Kong 1 and others incapable of resisting; breaking and entering the Kong House, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Paul McFelin was also charged with the armed robbery of James Kong.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840324.2.30
Bibliographic details
Press, 24 March 1984, Page 3
Word Count
276Juty finds McFelins guilty of kidnapping Press, 24 March 1984, Page 3
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in